Letter-tray.



[ E. L. DENNIS. LETTER TRAY.

APPLIUATION FILED APR.27, 1911.

994,984, Patented June 13, 1911.

nyz

1n: NORRIS PETERS co., WASHINGTON, n. c.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELMER L. DENNIS, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ANDREWS WIRE ANDIRON WORKS, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

LETTERTRAY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 13, 1911.

T 0 all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER L. DENNIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Rockford, in the county of Winnebago and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter-Trays, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to construct a connector for lettertrays which will enable them being nested for shipment and heldseparated when in use.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a plurality oftrays connected by my improved connector. Fig. 2 is a section on line aa Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of portions of two connectors inconnection with one corner of a tray. Fig. 4 is a perspective view ofone of the connectors.

The wire trays 1 are of the usual construction with the exception thatthe top wire 2 has loop portions 3 located at the corners of the tray.Connectors are provided to connect the trays and hold them one above theother and each connector comprises the shank t having a loop 5 at oneend and two branches 6 each having a hook 7 at its free end. Thesebranches 7 are located some distance from the end 8 of the shank 4;.

In use the branches 6 are hooked over the top wire 2 of the tray, eachside of a loop 3 and the end 8 of the shank 4 is located in a loop 3.The 100p 5 of the lower end of the shank 4 receives a loop 3 of anothertray. A connector is used at each corner of the tray. As the tendency ofthe shanks 4 is to incline inwardly, it will be seen that when the loop5 of the shank is placed over a loop 3 of the tray, its spring tensionwill hold it over the loop 3. Another tray may be added to the bottomtray by the employment of four connectors. All of the connectors arelocked in connection with the trays with the exception of the lower setof connectors by the ends 8 extending through the loops 3 of the wire ofthe trays after the loops 5 of the shanks are placed over the loops 3.The trays can be nested for shipment and erected as required for use.

I claim as my invention.

1. A tray connector comprising a shank having a loop at one end, twodiverging branches near its other end and each branch formed with ahook.

2. A plurality of trays, each formed with a top wire and the top wireformed with a loop at each corner of the tray, and con nectors for thetrays, each comprising a shank having a loop at one end, two divergingbranches near its other end and each branch formed with a hook, thehooked ends of the branches overlying the top wire of the tray and theend of the shank located in the loop of the same tray and the loop ofthe shank located over a loop of another tray.

' In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing wit-- nesses.

ELMER L. DENNIS.

WVitnesses:

A. O. BEHEL, E. D. E. N. BEHEL.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

